Device for Stooping Car Headrests

ABSTRACT

A device for stooping car headrests is provided. The device includes a housing in which a stay of a car headrest is pivotably coupled thereto, a main spring installed in the housing to bias the stay and the headrest in the forward direction, an arresting member pivotably and resiliently fixed to the housing for releasably holding the stay and a check member having a release and pivotably and resiliently coupled to the arresting member for controlling movement of the arresting member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for stooping car headrests,and more particularly, to a device for making car headrests to stoopdown on the backrest, which may be used together with a folding backrestto provide an extra space for loading cargoes in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a multi-seater van has three or four rows of seats, each ofwhich allows three seats to sit thereon. To secure a space in whichgoods and the like may be loaded, a rear seat of a van is designed suchthat a backrest thereof may be folded down onto the seat cushion thereofor the whole seat may be temporarily detached from the floor of the car.

However, the narrow space of the van does not allow a backrest to befolded down on the seat cushion without being bumped against the back ofthe backrest of the front seat in many cases, requiring the headrest tobe removed from the top of the backrest.

The headrest detached as such is likely to be carelessly placed in thevehicle and often left to be soiled, damaged or lost due to improperhandling thereof.

In addition, there are problems of cumbersomeness and inconveniencesthat the headrest should be detached or attached, each time the backrestis folded down or returned to its upright position.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problemsin the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide adevice for stooping a headrest on the backrest of a car seat, whereinthe headrest is readily stooped down for providing an extra loadingspace without requiring the headrest to be removed from the originalposition for folding the backrest and thus the headrest can be preventedfrom being damaged or lost.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

For achieving the object, the present invention provides a device forstooping car headrests, comprising a housing wherein a stay of a carheadrest pivotably coupled thereto; a main spring installed in thehousing to bias the stay and the headrest in the forward direction; anarresting member rotatably and resiliently fixed to the housing toreleasably hold the stay; and a check member having a release means androtatably and resiliently coupled to the arresting member.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

With the device for stooping car headrests according to the presentinvention, a headrest mounted on the backrest of a rear seat may bestooped down on the backrest, when the backrest is to be folded down.Accordingly, the backrest of the rear seat can be folded down onto theseat cushion without the headrest being bumped against the back of thebackrest of the front seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described below in detail for preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing examples of car seats towhich a device for stooping car headrests according to the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a device for stooping carheadrests according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of a housing of thedevice shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of an arresting memberand a check member of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the assembled state of the device shown inFIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 to 9 are side views showing operating states of the device shownin FIG. 2;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are rear views of a device for stooping car headrestsaccording to a modification of the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of some essential parts of adevice for stooping car headrests according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 13 to 15 are side views showing operation of the device shown inFIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a device for stooping car headrestsaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 17 and 18 are side views showing operation of the device shown inFIG. 16.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided adevice for stooping car headrests wherein a stay comprises two verticalportions with upper portions thereof for attaching a head support memberof the headrest thereto, a horizontal portion connecting lower ends ofthe vertical portions, and a pair of hinge pieces having respectiveshaft holes with rear ends thereof fixed apart on the front face of thehorizontal portion; a housing is provided in the form of a box without atop and the rear wall and with a pair of side walls having a pair ofopposite guide grooves with the narrower lower portion and the upwardlywidening upper portion, which allow the horizontal portion of the stayto be received and pivoted therein, and a pair of hinge holes aligningwith the corresponding shaft holes of the stay, and a front wall betweenthe side walls having a bracket attached to the inner surface thereofand formed with a receiving groove aligning with the guide grooves; amain spring is hooked to the inner surface of one of the side walls ofthe housing with a shaft pin fixed in a hinge hole of the housing toapply a resilient force for pivoting the stay in the forward direction;an arresting member formed with a holding groove and a holdingprojection at the upper portion and the front lower portion thereof,respectively, is rotatably coupled to the bracket by a shaft pin so thatthe holding groove may align with the guide grooves, being biased by aholding spring exerting a resilient force in a direction opposite tothat of the resilient force of the main spring; and a check member hasfirst and second jaws formed at the upper and lower portions thereof todefine a step therebetween so that the jaws may engage with the holdingprojection when the stay is in the upright state and the stooped state,respectively, and is fixed to the bracket with a shaft pin to be engagedwith the arresting member, while one side of the check member isresiliently supported by a check spring exerting a resilient force in adirection opposite to that of the resilient force of the holding spring.

In the above device for stooping car headrests, the arresting member andthe check member may be fixed with the shaft pins to the inner surfaceof either side wall rather than the bracket attached to the front wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for stooping car headrests, wherein a stay comprises twovertical portions with upper portions thereof for attaching a headsupport member of the headrest thereto, a horizontal portion connectinglower ends of the vertical portions, and a pair of hinge pieces havingrespective shaft holes with rear ends thereof fixed apart on the frontface of the horizontal portion; a housing is provided in the form of abox without a top and the rear wall and with a pair of side walls havinga pair of opposite guide grooves with the narrower lower portion and thewider upper portion, which allow the horizontal portion of the stay tobe received and pivoted therein, and a pair of hinge holes aligning withthe corresponding shaft holes of the stay, and a front wall between theside walls; a main spring is hooked to the inner surface of one of theside walls of the housing with a shaft pin fixed in a hinge hole of thestay to apply a resilient force for pivoting the stay in the forwarddirection; an arresting member with a holding groove and a lockingrecess formed adjacently at the upper and lower sides is fixed with ashaft pin to the inner surface of the other of the side walls so thatthe holding groove may align with the guide grooves; a check memberformed with a jaw to be engaged with the locking recess of the arrestingmember is fixed by a shaft pin to the inner surface of the other of theside walls to face and be engaged with the arresting member; a coilspring is hooked between lower ends of the arresting member and thecheck member to resiliently support the arresting member and the checkmember.

In the above device for stooping car headrests, the arresting member andthe check member may be fixed by the shaft pins to a bracket attached tothe front wall rather than the inner surface of one of the side walls.

Mode for the Invention

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the device for stooping carheadrests according to the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing examples of car seats towhich a device for stooping car headrests according to the presentinvention is applied; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of thedevice for stooping car headrests according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention; FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a housingof the device for stooping car headrests shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is anenlarged perspective view of an arresting member and a check member ofthe device for stooping car headrests shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a rearview showing the device for stooping car headrests shown in FIG. 2; andFIGS. 6 to 9 are side views showing operation of the device for stoopingcar headrests shown in FIG. 2.

The device for stooping car headrests according to the first embodimentof the present invention comprises a housing 10 mounted on the upperportion of the rear plate fixed in the backrest 1 a of a car seat 1; astay 22 of the headrest 20 pivotably fixed to the housing; an arrestingmember 30 that is rotatably coupled to the upper portion of a bracket 10a attached to the inner surface of the front wall of the housing toreceive a horizontal portion 222 of the stay 22 and has a holding spring35; a check member 40 that is rotatably coupled to the lower portion ofthe bracket and has a check spring 46 exerting a resilient force in adirection opposite to that of the resilient force of the holding spring35 to prevent the arresting member, which holds the horizontal portionof the stay 22, from being pivoted by the resilient force of the holdingspring 35; and a main spring 50 resiliently installed on the stay 22 toexert a resilient force for pivoting the headrest in the forwarddirection.

The housing 10 is provided in the form of a box without a top and therear wall. Two side walls 11 of the housing are formed with oppositeguide grooves 12 with the upper portion widening upwardly. Hinge holes13 are formed in front of the lower portions of the guide grooves,respectively. A hanging hole 14 is formed under the guide groove 12 inone of the side walls, and an opening 16 is formed at the rear end ofthe bottom portion 15 b.

The bracket 10 a is attached to the front wall 15 a of the housing tovertically traverse the middle portion thereof. A receiving groove 17 isformed at the upper intermediate portion of the bracket to align withthe guide grooves 12. Fixing holes 18 and 18′ and a hanging hole 19 areformed under the receiving groove in the bracket and a hanging recess19′ is formed at the front portion of the lower end of the bracket.

Each of the guide grooves 12 is formed such that the upper portionthereof has a width larger than that of the lower portion thereof withthe upwardly widening section above the hinge hole 13. To this end, therear end 121 of the guide groove is formed vertically, while thedistance L between the upper front end 122 and the upper rear end iswider than that L′ between lower portions thereof formed to be suited tothe diameter of the horizontal portion of the stay 22. The upper andlower portions of the front end are connected by a curved intermediateportion r.

As will be described hereinafter, this leads to cause the horizontalportion 222 of the stay 22 to be caught by the upper portions of thefront ends 122 of the guide grooves when the headrest 20 is pivoted fromthe vertical state to the horizontal state, i.e., the headrest isstooped by 90 degrees, thereby preventing the horizontal portion 222 ofthe stay 22 from being further pivoted.

The headrest 20 comprises a head support member 21 filled with anexpandable material and the stay 22 with vertical portions 221 of whichupper ends have the head support member attached thereon and the lowerhorizontal portion 222 pivotably coupled to the housing 10. The upperends of the vertical portions 221 extend out of the top of the backrest1 a and are exposed thereabove. A fixing plate 223 of the head supportmember 21 is fixedly attached across the upper parts of the verticalportions, as known in the art.

Hinge pieces 23 with shaft holes 231 are fixedly attached at oppositesides of the horizontal portion 222. The shaft holes align with thehinge holes 13 outside the side walls 11 to receive hinge pins 24 and24′.

Therefore, the stay 22 is fixed in the housing 10 to pivot on the hingepins 24 and 24′ fixed into the shaft holes 231 of the hinge pieces 23and the hinge holes 13 of the housing 10. When the stay is in theupright position, the horizontal portion 222 thereof is received andpositioned in the lower portions of the guide grooves 12 and thereceiving groove 17.

In this state, the horizontal portion 222 is lifted to leave the lowerportions of the guide grooves 12 and the receiving groove 17, when theheadrest 20 is pivoted on the pins 24 and 24′ forward, i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 2. When the horizontal portion is brought into contactwith and caught by the upper portions of the front ends 122, it cannotbe further pivoted and thus the headrest is positioned and maintained inthe horizontal state.

Meanwhile, the main spring 50 is wound around the hinge pin 24 fixed inthe hole 13 of one of the side walls 11. A curved end 51 of the mainspring is hooked on the horizontal portion 222 of the stay and the otherend 52 thereof is fixed in the hanging hole 14 formed in one of the sidewalls 11 of the housing 10.

Accordingly, the resilient force of the main spring 50 is exerted on thehorizontal portion 222 so as to cause the stay 22 to pivot on the hingepin 24 forward, i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 2. Thus, the headrest 20can be stooped from the vertical state to the horizontal state.

The arresting member 30 having a shaft hole 31 at the center thereof isprovided with a holding groove 32 to be aligned with the receivinggroove 17 of the bracket 10 a.

One of the two end portions forming the groove 32 is bent twice,outwardly and inwardly, to form a hanging piece 33 provided with ahanging hole, making the member to have the “U” shape, while a holdingprojection 34 is formed at the front lower part of the arresting member.

The arresting member 30 is rotatably coupled to the bracket by a holdingshaft 30 a of which an end is inserted into the shaft hole 31 andfixedly coupled in the fixing hole 18 of the bracket 10 a.

The holding spring 35 is wound around the holding shaft 30 a with oneend 351 thereof inserted in the hanging hole formed at the hanging piece33 and the other end thereof hooked in the hanging hole 19 of thebracket 10 a.

With such a configuration, the resilient force of the holding spring 35is exerted to bias the arresting member 30 rearward of the headrest 20,i.e., clockwise in FIG. 2. However, the headrest is maintained in thevertical state, as the holding spring is in the compressed state and thehorizontal portion 222 of the stay 22 is still arrested in the slantedholding groove of the arresting member and the receiving groove 17 ofthe bracket 10 a. When the repulsive force of the holding spring isexerted to rotate the arresting member clockwise, the holding groovewill turn upright from the slanted state, helping the horizontal portionof the stay come out of the guide grooves 12 and the receiving groove 17in cooperation with the main spring.

The check member 40 is made of a plate and rotatably fixed to the innersurface of the bracket 10 a so as to be placed below the arrestingmember 30 with a shaft 40 a of which the front end is fixedly engagedwith the fixing hole 18 after being inserted through the shaft hole 41formed at the front end of the check member.

A first jaw 42 for engaging with the holding projection 34 of thearresting member 30 is formed at the rear end of the upper surface ofthe check member, and a second jaw 43 is formed in front of the firstjaw to form a step together with the first jaw. The check member 40 isfurther provided with a banding piece 45 at the rear end thereof so thatone end of a wire 40 b serving as a release control means by pullingdown and rotating the check member 40 clockwise is fixed to the bandingpiece. The check member is also formed with a hanging hole 44 in thevicinity of the second jaw. The release wire 40 b passes through theopening 16 formed in the bottom portion 15 b of the housing 10 and thedistal end thereof is connected to a lever (not shown) that may beprovided at one side surface of the backrest to be used for releasingthe backrest 1 a from the fixed state with the seat cushion and foldingthe backrest 1 a down onto the seat cushion.

When the lever is operated, the fixed state of the backrest with theseat cushion is released and the release wire 40 b is also pulled downso that the check member 40 is rotated clockwise.

The time required for the clockwise rotation of the check member 40 isdetermined to such an extent that the holding projection 34 may bedisengaged from the first jaw 42 and then caught by the second jaw 43.When the holding projection is caught by the second jaw, the arrestingmember is prevented from further rotation.

That is, the rotation of the arresting member 30 is stopped at theposition where the holding projection 34 is caught by either of thefirst and second jaws 42, 43.

The check spring 46 is in the compressed state of being fitted aroundthe shaft 40 a, and one end 461 thereof is hung in the hanging hole 44and the other end 462 thereof is hooked in the hanging recess 19′ of thebracket 10 a.

With such a configuration, the repulsive force of the compressed checkspring 46 is exerted on the check member 40 in a direction opposite tothat of the resilient force exerting on the arresting member 30.However, since the check member and the arresting member are preventedfrom being rotated counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, in thestate where the holding projection 34 of the arresting member is caughtby the first jaw 42, the stay 22 is maintained in the upright statetogether with the headrest as shown in FIG. 6.

When the release wire 40 b is pulled down and the check member 40 isrotated clockwise, the arresting member 30 is subsequently rotatedclockwise by means of the cooperation of the second jaw 42 and theholding projection 34. The holding groove 32 of the arresting member,which has been positioned slantly with respect to the receiving groove17 of the bracket 10 a to prevent the horizontal portion 222 of the stay22 from being lifted, is turned upright and thus made to align with thereceiving groove 17, thereby releasing the horizontal portion of thestay 22 from the arrested state. With the action of the repulsive forceof the compressed main spring 50 and the pushing action of the arrestingmember, the stay 22 and the headrest 20 coupled thereto are pivotedcounterclockwise on the pin 24 so that the horizontal portion of thestay may be lifted from the receiving groove and the holding groove (seeFIGS. 7 and 8).

The stay 22 and the headrest 20 are further pivoted by means of theresilient force of the main spring 50 to the position as shown in FIG.9. Thus, the headrest is stooped from the vertical state to thehorizontal state.

Pivoting of the headrest 20 is stopped in the horizontally stoopedstate, because the horizontal portion 222 of the stay 22 is confined bythe upper portions of the front ends 122 of the guide grooves 12 formedin the both side walls 11. Since the holding projection 34 is caught bythe second jaw 43, rotation of the arresting member 30 and the checkmember 40 is also stopped.

Time required for stooping the headrest 20 from the upright state to thehorizontal state should be considerably short, i.e., the stooping of theheadrest should be achieved before the headrest reaches the upper end ofthe backrest of the front seat. The backrest can be folded down onto theseat cushion lb without being hindered by the headrest, since theheadrest has been already stooped forward on the backrest 1 a.

Meanwhile, the headrest 20 remains in the horizontally stooped state onthe top of the backrest and shall be set up manually, after the foldedbackrest 1 a is returned to the upright position.

When the stay 22 is pushed up for clockwise pivoting on the hinge pin24, the main spring 50 is compressed and the horizontal portion 222enters into the receiving groove 17, pushing the holding groove 32downward. Accordingly, the arresting member 30 is rotatedcounterclockwise and the holding spring 35 is also compressed.

This operation is kept until the lower portion of the holding groove 32is made to align with the receiving groove 17. Upon completion of thealignment of the holding groove with the receiving groove, the arrestingmember 30 is prevented from being rotated counterclockwise and themiddle section of the horizontal portion is positioned within thereceiving groove 17 and the holding groove 32 that is slightly slantedwith respect thereto and both side sections of the horizontal portionare positioned within the narrow lower portions of the guide grooves 12.

Meanwhile, the holding projection 34 is separated from the second jaw 43of the check member 40, when the arresting member 30 is rotatedcounterclockwise. The check member is then rotated counterclockwise bymeans of the resilient force of the check spring 46 that has beencompressed due to the clockwise rotation of the check member by the wire40 b pulled down.

The counterclockwise rotation of the check member 40 and the arrestingmember 30 is continued until the holding projection 34 is caught by thefirst jaw 42, resulting in firm engagement of the check member 40 andthe arresting member 30. Thus, the members cannot be further rotatedcounterclockwise and the vertical portions of the stay 22 is returned toand maintained in the upright position as shown in FIG. 6.

The headrest 20 is kept in the upright position together with the stay22, because the holding projection 34 of the arresting member 30 iscaught by the first jaw 42 of the check member 40 which is biased torotate by the resilient force of the check spring 46 in the directionopposite to that of the rotation of the arresting member. If theprojection and the jaw are not released from such engagement, theheadrest remains in the upright position, even though the resilientforce of the main spring 50 is larger than that of the holding spring35.

In other words, the pivoting of the headrest is prevented by the checkmember 40 engaged with the arresting member 30, even though the headrest20 is forced to pivot counterclockwise by means of the repulsive forceof the main spring 50. Thus, the headrest is fixed not to pivot, as faras the state where the arresting member 30 is held by the check member40.

In the device for stooping car headrests according to the firstembodiment of the present invention, the arresting member and the checkmember are rotatably coupled to the bracket 10 a. However, as analternative thereof, they may be attached to one of the two side wallsof the housing with the bracket 10 a eliminated (refer to a thirdembodiment to be described hereinafter).

FIGS. 10 and 11 are rear views of a device for stooping car headrestsaccording to a modification of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

This modification is characterized in that the head support member 21 ofthe headrest 20 may be lowered and raised by the modified structure ofthe stay 22 of the first embodiment, the vertical portions 221 and thelower horizontal portion 222 of which are formed as a single body.

The stay 22 of this example has the vertical portions 221 and the lowerhorizontal portion 222, which are formed separately from each other.Lower ends of the vertical portions are coupled to the correspondingsleeve housings 61 vertically mounted on housing cases 60 installed atthe upper end of the backrest 1 a. Both ends of the horizontal portionare fixed to outer surfaces of the housing cases by means of welding.

Since the stay 22 is coupled to the sleeve housings 61 such that it maybe vertically lifted or lowered, the height of the headrest 20 can beadjusted.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of some essential parts of adevice for stooping car headrests according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 13 to 15 are side views of the device in different operatingstates.

The basic structure of the device for stooping car headrests accordingto the second embodiment is substantially the same to that of the firstembodiment, except that the arresting member and the check member arearranged to cooperate with each other by means of a single coil spring70, differently from the structure of the first embodiment in which thearresting member 30 is arranged to be rotated clockwise by means of theresilient force of the holding spring 35 and the check member 40 isdisposed to be rotated counterclockwise by means of the resilient forceof the check spring 46 so that the two members may be sequentiallyoperated by means of those springs.

As the arresting member and the check member are arranged to operate bymeans of the single coil spring 70, there are advantages in that thenumber of springs and assembling steps of the device are reduced and thearresting member 30 and the check member 40 may be operated like aunitary body.

The arresting member 30 and the check member 40 are arranged to faceeach other rather than one above another as in the first embodiment. Thearresting member 30 is coupled to a bracket 10 a through a shaft hole 31at the center of the arresting member by a shaft 30 a. The check memberis rotatably fixed to the bracket 10 a through a shaft hole 41 at theupper end of the check member by a shaft 40 a. At the same time, one end71 and the other end 72 of the coil spring 70 are hooked on lower endsof the arresting member and the check member, respectively.

With such a configuration, the lower ends of the arresting member 30 andthe check member 40 are pulled toward each other by the resilient forceof the coil spring 70. Thus, the resilient force of the coil spring isexerted to rotate the arresting member and the check membercounterclockwise and clockwise, respectively.

A holding groove 32 is formed to open upward when the arresting member30 is rotated counterclockwise, and a locking recess 34 a is formedbelow the holding groove. A jaw 42 a is formed to protrude from thefront intermediate portion of the check member 40 so as to be caught inthe locking recess.

One end of a release wire 40 b for pulling and rotating the check membercounterclockwise is fixed to the lower end of the check member 40. Thewire and components associated therewith and the operation thereof arethe same as those of the first embodiment.

In the device for stooping car headrests according to the secondembodiment constructed as above, the lower horizontal portion 222 of thestay 22 may be pivoted clockwise on the hinge pin 24 and lowered intothe narrow lower portions of the guide grooves 12, pushing down thebottom surface of the holding groove 32, when the headrest 20 in thestate stooped over the backrest is pushed up to the upright position.Accordingly, the arresting member 30 is rotated clockwise and thus theholding groove 32 is placed perpendicular to the lower portions of theguide grooves, in which the horizontal portion is placed. Then, the jaw42 a of the check member 40 is forced to enter and engage with thelocking recess 34 a by the resilient force of the coil spring 70 so thatrotation of the arresting member and the check member may be stopped,making the headrest kept in the upright state. The main spring 50 isresultantly compressed to have an increased repulsive force due to theclockwise pivoting of the stay 22.

In this state, the counterclockwise pivoting action of the stay isblocked by the engagement of the arresting member 30 and the checkmember 40, because such engagement blocks the repulsive force of thecompressed main spring 50 from being exerted on the horizontal portion222 to pivot the stay 22 counterclockwise. Thus, the horizontal portionof the stay cannot come out from the holding groove 32 and the headrest20 is kept stationary in the upright position (see FIG. 13), as far asthe two members are engeged with each other as above.

The check member is rotated counterclockwise and the jaw 42 a is made tobe disengaged from the locking recess 34 a, making the arresting member30 released from the engagement with the check member, when the releasewire 40 b and the lower end of the check member 40 are pulled laterally.The repulsive force of the coil spring 70, which has been extended asthe check member is rotated counterclockwise, is exerted to pull thelower end of the arresting member so that the arresting member may berotated counterclockwise with the holding groove 32 thereof turnedupwardly (see FIG. 14).

With the holding groove 32 turned upwardly as such, the horizontalportion 222 is released from the arrested state so that the resilientforce of the compressed main spring 50 is applied to pivot the stay 22counterclockwise. Accordingly, the horizontal portion comes out from theholding groove, and at the same time, the headrest 20 is forced to bestooped to the horizontal state as shown in FIG. 15 so that the backrestof the seat may be folded down onto the seat cushion without beinghindered by the headrest.

On the other hand, the backrest 1 a is manually returned to the uprightposition from the folded position with the stooped headrest 20, whichalso need to be manually unfolded. When the headrest is manuallyunfolded upwardly, the stay 22 is pivoted clockwise on the hinge pin 24,making the main spring 50 compressed and pushing the bottom surface ofthe holding groove 32 downward so that the horizontal portion 222 may belowered for entering the holding groove and the guide grooves 12.

The arresting member 30 is thus rotated clockwise, making the lower jawthereof under the holding groove to travel along and push down the jaw42 a so that the check member 40 may be rotated counterclockwise. Assoon as the lower jaw has passed over the front end of the jaw of thecheck member, the resilient force of the coil spring 70 that has beenextended due to rotations of the arresting member and the check memberin the opposite directions is applied to force the check member to bepivoted clockwise and the jaw 42 a to enter and engage with the lockingrecess 34 a of the arresting member so that the arresting member and thecheck member are not further pivoted. Thereafter, the headrest 20 iskept stationary in the vertical state together with the stay 22 as shownin FIG. 13.

The arresting member 30 and the check member 40 operating as describedabove may be coupled to the bracket 10 a attached to the front wall 15 aof the housing in the first embodiment, or directly to the inner surfaceof one of the side walls 11 of the housing 10 without the bracket 10 aused (see a third embodiment to be described hereinafter).

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a device for stooping car headrestsaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention, while FIGS. 17and 18 are side views showing operation of the device for stooping carheadrests shown in FIG. 16.

The third embodiment of the present invention is characterized in thatthe arresting member 30 for holding the horizontal portion 222 of thestay 22 therein and the check member 40 for releasably preventing thearresting member from being rotated are coupled to the inner surface ofone of the side walls 11 of the housing 10 and a rocking-preventionbracket 10 b is provided on the inner surface of the front wall 15 a ofthe housing.

The reason for providing the rocking-prevention bracket 10 b will bedescribed below.

In the devices for stooping car headrests according to the first andsecond embodiments, the stay 22 of the headrest 20 is axially arrangedon the hinge pins 24, 24′ inserted in the hinge holes 13 and the shaftholes of the hinge pieces 23 so as to be pivoted in a range of about 90degrees between the vertical and horizontal states. Therefore, thehorizontal portion 222 of the stay placed in the upper portions of theguide grooves 12 formed in the both side walls 11 of the housing 10 isforced to enter and stay at the narrow lower portions thereof, when thestay 22 is pivoted on the hinge pins to have the headrest in the uprightposition. The horizontal portion of the stay is forced to come out fromthe guide grooves for placing the headrest in the stooped state. Thevarying width of the upper portions of the guide grooves and the depthof the lower portions of the same are desirably formed to conform to thepath of the horizontal portion pivoting on the hinge pins fixed in theshaft holes of the hinge pieces. However, even a slight offset inattaching the hinge pieces to the stay or aligning the shaft holes ofthe hinge pieces with the hinge holes may make it hard for thehorizontal portion to be properly lowered on the narrow lower portionsof the guide grooves. To solve this problem, the lower portions of theguide grooves are generally formed to have a width wider than thediameter of the horizontal portion of the stay and a depth deeper thanone normally required. With the above configuration, however, thehorizontal portion of the stay may not reach the bottom of the guidegrooves, leaving a gap g therebetween, in the case that there is not anoffset associated with the hinge pieces as above and thus the stay mayrock above the bottom of the guide grooves. This requires the device tobe provided with a rocking-prevention means.

The rocking-prevention bracket 10 b of this embodiment is arranged sothat the top surface thereof is positioned on the same height as orslightly below the bottom of the guide grooves 12. In addition, anelastic member 101 with an appropriate thickness, which is formed ofelastic materials such as rubber, synthetic rubber, a spring or thelike, is provided on the top surface of the rocking-prevention bracketin consideration of the gap between the bottom of each guide groove andthe position where the horizontal portion 222 of the stay 22 shall bestopped after having normally entered the guide groove. When thelowering horizontal portion approaches the bottom of the guide groove,pressing the elastic member, a resilient force of the elastic memberserves to support the horizontal portion, thereby preventing it fromrocking even though there is a gap g between the bottom of the guidegroove and the horizontal portion.

Meanwhile, the arresting members and the check members in the first andsecond embodiments can be used as the arresting member 30 and the checkmember 40 in the third embodiment. The location of the opening 16 formedin the bottom portion 15 b of the housing 10 so that the release wire 40b connected to the banding piece 45 of the check member passestherethrough may differ from those in the first and second embodiments.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments in which the headrest is pivoted in a range ofabout 90 degrees between the vertical and horizontal states, thepivoting angle may vary by changing the engagement state of thearresting member and the check member with each other.

Further, although the control means has been described by way of exampleas a release wire which may be connected to a lever for folding theseat, the release wire may be provided to be exposed at a side or bottomsurface of a seat, or replaced with a release lever.

Although the present invention has been described by way of example inconnection with the preferred embodiments, the scope of the presentinvention is not limited thereto but may be limited only by the appendedclaims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The device for stooping car headrests according to the present inventionis very much convenient to use, since the headrest is easily stooped andthus not caught by the upper end of the backrest of the front seat in avehicle, when the backrest of a car seat is to be folded down onto theseat cushion, thereby allowing the seat to be easily folded down withoutbeing hindered by the headrest thereof.

Further, the device for stooping car headrests according to the presentinvention can prevent the headrest from being lost, stained or damaged,because the detachment of the entire seat or the headrest is not neededfor folding down the backrest of a car seat.

In addition, the device for stooping car headrests according to thepresent invention can be conveniently used without the problem of theheadrest rocking.

1. A device for stooping car headrests, comprising: a housing (10)having a stay (22) of a headrest (20) pivotably arranged therein; a mainspring (50) provided in said housing (10) to bias said stay (22) in theforward direction; an arresting member (30) resiliently and rotatablyfixed to said housing (10) to releasably hold said stay (20); and acheck member (40) resiliently and rotatably engaged with said arrestingmember (30) for controlling operation of said arresting member (30) andhaving a release means.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid stay (22) comprises parallel vertical portions (221) with a headsupport member (21) of the headrest (20) attached to upper portionsthereof, a horizontal portion (222) connecting lower ends of saidvertical portions, and a pair of hinge pieces (23) having respectiveshaft holes (231) and fixed apart to the front face of said horizontalportion (222); said housing (10) is in the form of a box without a topand the rear wall and with two side walls (11) having a pair of oppositeguide grooves (12) with the wide upper portion and the narrow lowerportion and hinge holes (13) to be aligned with said shaft holes (231)of said stay (22), and a front wall (15 b) between said side walls (11)with a bracket (10 a) attached to the inner surface of said front wall,said horizontal portion (222) of said stay (22) being accommodated andpivoted in said guide grooves and said bracket having a receiving groove(17) to be aligned with lower portions of said guide grooves (12); saidmain spring (50) is hooked in said housing (10) using one of said hingeholes (13) of said housing (10) to apply a resilient force for pivotingand stooping said stay (22) forward; said arresting member (30) has aholding groove (32) and a holding projection (34) at the upper portionand the lower portion thereof respectively and is rotatably attached tosaid bracket (10 a) so that said holding groove (32) may be aligned withsaid guide grooves (12), while being resiliently supported by a holdingspring (35) exerting a resilient force in a direction opposite to thatof the resilient force of said main spring (50); and said check member(40) has a first jaw (42) and a second jaw (43) formed one after anotherto define a step therebetween so that either one may engage with saidholding projection (34) when said stay (22) is in the upright or stoopedstate, said check member being rotatably attached to said bracket (10 a)to be engaged with said arresting member (30), while said check memberis resiliently supported by a check spring (45) exerting a resilientforce in a direction opposite to that of the resilient force of saidholding spring (35).
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidstay (22) comprises parallel vertical portions (221) with a head supportmember (21) of the headrest (20) attached to upper portions thereof, ahorizontal portion (222) connecting lower ends of said verticalportions, and a pair of hinge pieces (23) having respective shaft holes(231) and fixed apart to the front face of said horizontal portion(222); said housing (10) is in the form of a box without a top and therear wall and with two side walls (11) having a pair of opposite guidegrooves (12) with the wide upper portion and the narrow lower portionand hinge holes (13) to be aligned with said shaft holes (231) of saidstay (221) and a front wall (15 b) between said side walls (11), saidhorizontal portion (222) of said stay (22) being accommodated andpivoted in said guide grooves; said main spring (50) is hooked in saidhousing (10) using one of said hinge holes (13) of said housing to applya resilient force for pivoting and stooping said stay (22) forward; saidarresting member (30) has a holding groove (32) and a holding projection(34) at the upper portion and the lower portion thereof respectively andis rotatably attached to the inner surface of one of said side walls(11) so that said holding groove (32) may be aligned with said guidegrooves (12), while being resiliently supported by a holding spring (35)exerting a resilient force in a direction opposite to that of theresilient force of said main spring (50); and said check member (40) hasa first jaw (42) and a second jaw (43) formed one after another todefine a step therebetween so that either one may engage with saidholding projection (34) when said stay (22) is in the upright or stoopedstate, said check member being rotatably attached to the inner surfaceof one of the side walls to be engaged with said arresting member (30),while said check member is resiliently supported by a check spring (45)exerting a resilient force in a direction opposite to that of theresilient force of said holding spring (35).
 4. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said stay (22) comprises parallel vertical portions(221) with a head support member (21) of the headrest (20) attached toupper portions thereof, a horizontal portion (222) connecting lower endsof said vertical portions, and a pair of hinge pieces (23) havingrespective shaft holes (231) and fixed apart to the front face of saidhorizontal portion (222); said housing (10) is in the form of a boxwithout a top and the rear wall and with two side walls (11) having apair of opposite guide grooves (12) with the wide upper portion and thenarrow lower portion and hinge holes (13) to be aligned with said shaftholes (231) of said stay (221, and a front wall (15 b) between said sidewalls (11) with a bracket (10 a) attached to the inner surface of saidfront wall, said horizontal portion (222) of said stay (22) beingaccommodated and pivoted in said guide grooves and said bracket having areceiving groove (17) to be aligned with lower portions of said guidegrooves (12); said main spring (50) is hooked in said housing (10) usingone of said hinge holes (13) of said housing (10) to apply a resilientforce for pivoting and stooping said stay (22) forward; said arrestingmember (30) has a holding groove (32) at the upper portion thereof and alocking recess (34 a) at the lower portion thereof and is rotatablyattached to said bracket (10 a) so that said holding groove (32) isaligned with said receiving groove (17); said check member (40) has ajaw (42 a) to be engaged with said locking recess (34 a) of saidarresting member (30) and is rotatably attached to said bracket (10 a)to face and be engaged with said arresting member (30); and a coilspring (70) is hooked between lower ends of said arresting member (30)and said check member (40) to resiliently support said arresting member(30) and said check member (40).
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said stay (22) comprises parallel vertical portions (221) with ahead support member (21) of the headrest (20) attached to upper portionsthereof, a horizontal portion (22) connecting lower ends of saidvertical portions, and a pair of hinge pieces (23) having respectiveshaft holes (231) and fixed apart to the front face of said horizontalportion (222); said housing (10) is in the form of a box without a topand the rear wall and with two side walls (1) having a pair of oppositeguide grooves (12) with the wide upper portion and the narrow lowerportion and hinge holes (13) to be aligned with said shaft holes (231)of said stay (22), and a front wall (15 b) between said side walls (11),said horizontal portion (222) of said stay (22) being accommodated andpivoted in said guide grooves; said main spring (50) is hooked in saidhousing (10) using one of said hinge holes (13) of said housing (10) toapply a resilient force for pivoting and stooping said stay (22)forward; said arresting member (30) has a holding groove (32) at theupper portion thereof and a locking recess (34 a) at the lower portionthereof and is rotatably attached to the inner surface of one of saidside walls (11) so that said holding groove (32) may be aligned withsaid guide grooves (12); said check member (40) has a jaw (42 a) to beengaged with said locking recess (34 a) of said arresting member (30),and is rotatably attached to the inner surface of said side wall (11) toface and be engaged with said arresting member (30); and a coil spring(70) is hooked between lower ends of said arresting member (30) and saidcheck member (40) to resiliently support said arresting member (30) andsaid check member (40).
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid stay (22) comprises parallel vertical portions (221) and a lowerhorizontal portion (222) formed as a unitary body.
 7. The device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said stay (22) comprises parallel verticalportions (221) slidably coupled in sleeve housings (61) so that they maybe vertically lifted or lowered, said sleeve housings being verticallymounted on housing cases arranged in the backrest of the car seat andthe lower horizontal portion (22) with both ends fixed to housing cases(60), said horizontal portion being formed separately from said verticalportions.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein arocking-prevention bracket (10 b) is provided on the inner surface ofsaid front wall (15 a) of the housing (10) to support said horizontalportion (222) of the stay (22) when the headrest (20) is in the uprightstate.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein an elastic member(101) is provided on the top of said rocking-prevention bracket (10 b).10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said elastic member (101)is made of one selected from the group consisting of rubber, syntheticrubber and a spring.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidstay (22) comprises parallel vertical portions (221) and a lowerhorizontal portion (222) formed as a unitary body.
 12. The device asclaimed in any one of claim 11, wherein said stay (22) comprisesparallel vertical portions (221) slidably coupled in sleeve housings(61) so that they may be vertically lifted or lowered, said sleevehousings being vertically mounted on housing cases arranged in thebackrest of the car seat and the lower horizontal portion (222) withboth ends fixed to housing cases (60), said horizontal portion beingformed separately from said vertical portions.
 13. The device as claimedin claim 3, wherein a rocking-prevention bracket (10 b) is provided onthe inner surface of said front wall (15 a) of the housing (10) tosupport said horizontal portion (222) of the stay (22) when the headrest(20) is in an upright state.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 13,wherein an elastic member (101) is provided on the top of saidrocking-prevention bracket (10 b).
 15. The device as claimed in claim14, wherein said elastic member (101) is made of one selected from thegroup consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber and a spring.
 16. Thedevice as claimed in claim 3, wherein said stay (22) comprises parallelvertical portions (221) and a lower horizontal portion (222) formed as aunitary body.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stay(22) comprises parallel vertical portions (221) slidably coupled insleeve housings (61) so that they may be vertically lifted or lowered,said sleeve housings being vertically mounted on housing cases arrangedin the backrest of the car seat and the lower horizontal portion (222)with both ends fixed to housing cases (60), said horizontal portionbeing formed separately from said vertical portions.
 18. The device asclaimed in claim 5, wherein a rocking-prevention bracket (10 b) isprovided on the inner surface of said front wall (15 a) of the housing(10) to support said horizontal portion (222) of the stay (22) when theheadrest (20) is in an upright state.
 19. The device as claimed in claim18, wherein an elastic member (101) is provided on the top of saidrocking-prevention bracket (10 b).
 20. The device as claimed in claim19, wherein said elastic member (101) is made of one selected from thegroup consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber and a spring.